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EMBRACING HYDROGEN OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE C L E A N ENERGY ECONOMY
Alberta is the largest hydrogen producer in Canada, and Sturgeon County – alongside existing industry – is leading the transition to a low-carbon future. Hydrogen is a low-carbon energy source that only produces emissions in the form of water vapour. By 2050, 30 per cent of enduse energy is expected to be from hydrogen. Mayor Alanna Hnatiw is the chair of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, which helps advance the hydrogen industry in the Sturgeon County’s Agriculture Services department –
region, province and country.
the lead on wetland replacement projects in the
“Hydrogen is our future, and we are taking a leadership role in
County – looks forward to future projects that will
investing in and cultivating the hydrogen industry,” said Hnatiw. “The
play a pivotal role for environmental stewardship and
region has vast experience and expertise in hydrogen production and
help ensure the health of our natural ecosystems for
carbon capture and storage, due in large part to industry in Alberta’s
years to come.
Industrial Heartland, which is partially located in Sturgeon County.
For information on Sturgeon County’s project, visit
This means we are well-positioned to lead these efforts.”
SturgeonCounty.ca. To learn more about the
The Edmonton region is among the world’s lowest-cost producers
Government of Alberta’s program, visit Alberta.ca/
of low-carbon hydrogen, and the Heartland area is Canada’s largest
Wetland-Replacement-Program.
hydrocarbon-processing region, producing thousands of tonnes of hydrogen each day. Currently, two refineries – NWR Sturgeon Refinery and Shell – operate in the Heartland with carbon capture technology and are proving that carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can safely and effectively reduce CO2 emissions from the energy industry. Sturgeon County is a key location for the deployment of CCUS technology, with three of the six provincially approved storage hubs located within our borders. The Edmonton region is home to more than 25 projects relating to
to collaborate with our neighbours and share
the production, transportation and end use of hydrogen, and CCUS.
resources to deliver on that commitment.”
This is helping the region compete on a global level in the production
Construction of the approximately 600-metre-long and three-metre-wide asphalt trail extension started in the spring
and export of low-carbon hydrogen. There is significant economic opportunity associated with low-carbon hydrogen; by 2050, it’s expected to be an up-to-$2.5 trillion global industry.
of 2023 and was completed this fall. The
The County is currently exploring ways to adopt innovative hydrogen
project joined the existing pathway west
technologies in its municipal operations, which demonstrates
of Highway 28 to the path owned by the
environmental stewardship, and will save taxpayers money.
Edmonton Garrison.
